Builder's Gallery II
 

This beauty was built by Mike Smith from Mogadore, Ohio

The following testimonial was unsolicited but appreciated nonetheless:

Dom,  I am a friend of Bill Burtons and went in with him on building the Bentech  recumbent.  We built 3 frames, the first of which we brazed and modified a  few little things then scrapped since we are both somewhat inexperienced at  brazing. We rode it last fall (1996) just as the snow started flying.  We then  got serious and fixtured up 2 frames and had them TIG welded.  This past  spring we completed the frames and began assembly.  I was able to get mine  on the road in time to go to a HPV fairing building get-together where a  dozen or so knowledgable people from Indiana, Ohio and Illinois attended.  Among them was Don Berry, the co-owner ACE tools, the manufacturer of the  Infinity. They were quite impressed with the bike and several rode it.  We  made several changes to the design but only you would see them if you  looked.  Mike Smith tooling along an Ohio byway  Bill and I then rode the GOBA (Great Ohio Bike Adventure). My bike was the only one we  took although Bill had finished his (his came out looking a little better  since he added a Rans seat and rear wheel disc) he rode his tandem with his  daughter.    Bill Burton's Rans-seated dream machine. This looker also has a flip-it handlebar stem.  At the GOBA there was a recumbent rally and we took the Bentech,  of which I  later read a report on the event listing the bikes.  The author rode our  bike but forgot the name and called it an Econobent.  Again the design and construction received good comments.  I had a lot of trouble with big  hills but managed the intermediate ones quite well.  Since it was a hilly  course I worked too hard for the level of development of my legs and also my  gearing wasn't low enough.  (52-42-30 front and 11-28 rear)  Following Goba  I stripped the bike and repainted, built aero wheels and added "V" brakes I  also added another 1/8 inch to the drop out for the derailler.  I improved  the gearing for hills by going to a 13 to 34 rear cog set and dropping the  small front to 28. It really paid off on RAGBRAI.  I have since ridden the Circle Akron Century and then RAGBRAI.  I rode with  3 other recumbent riders on RAGBRAI one on a Vision USS, another on a Turner  USS and the third on a Lightening. Everyone in the group was surprised that  it was a homebuilt.  I started this letter in August and was interupted.  I recently saw some  pictures of other completed Bentechs on the internet.  Since I got a scanner  for Christmas I will try to send you a couple of pictures.  Bill Burton on his Bentech.   Bill and I both love the bikes.  Thanks for getting us started.   Regards,  Mike Smith

 
 
 
Pat Champlin from Tennessee grafted a rear triangle from an old road bike onto his Bentech frame.

A European Bentech

 
This is Johannes Panse's Bentech from Altdorf, Germany. Note the Euro-Style seat, shock fork and triangulated chainstays. Bentech plans have been shipped to homebuilders in many countries including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Brazil, Finland, Spain, Italy, Britain, Scotland, Bermuda and France
 

This is Dennis Rieger from Tijeras, New Mexico.

 Dennis modified his chainstays so that V-Brakes could be used. What a beautiful job of welding he did on this lovely homebuilt!

Dennis designed and fabricated his own flip-it stem. Can you tell he has access to a machine shop?

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